November 5, 2008

Yadi wins Gold Glove

4thebirds...... Congrats to Yadier Molina, who won his first Gold Glove.

In the linked article below, Joe Stauss runs down the facts on Cardinals' players who've won the award, including only two catchers, who've won Gold Gloves three times apiece.

Strauss goes on to point out that neither Albert Pujols nor Troy Glaus won Gold Gloves. Pujols' miss may have been a close call, but Cardinal Nation is probably wondering how Glaus missed out on his first chance with the best fielding percentage in the major leagues. The award went to David Wright of the New York Mets, who has won a Gold Glove previously.

Molina actually had his worst year as far as statistics, and there may be a few other teams' fans wondering how their catchers missed out.

Still, to anyone who watches Molina's work behind the dish day in and day out knows how skilled he is. Even in his worst season as far as errors went, Molina was still top-notch at this position.

The Gold Glove award is voted on by managers and coaching staffs within their own league, and they are not permitted to vote for any of their own charges.

For what it's worth, at 4thebirds..., there is applause for all Cardinals' defenders, and more congrats to Yadier Molina, and much respect for both Pujols and Glaus, who performed as well as any Cards' fan could expect.